ABSTRACT: Contribution of the 3D variance technology to the interpretation of the depositional systems in the Mahakam delta

Bernet-Rollande, Olivier¹, Yuriza Noor¹, Jean Francois Dervieux¹, Keith Tushingham², Arfi Imran³, and Noomane Fehri³
(1) Total Indonesie, Balikpapan, Indonesia 
(2) Schlumberger Geoquest, Houston, TX 
(3) PT Schlumberger Geophysics Nusantara, Balikpapan, Indonesia

Based on a new patent-pending technique developed by Schlumberger GeoQuest, Variance Cube calculates the direct measurement of dissimilarity rather than the inferred similarity of seismic data.

Comparison with traditional coherency techniques showed that Variance can give sharper and more distinct features for subtle faults or channels, carbonate build-ups, etc.

However, optimal parameters are data set dependent and are driven by the geology. They also depend on the specific features targeted by the interpreter. In order to save time, money and disk space, the interpreter needs to be able to fully control the parameter selection. By testing various parameters over the area of interest and checking the results in the seismic workstation, the interpreter gains total control over the final cube output. The result can be visualized together with other available cubes.

The technique was successfully applied to several examples from the ancient Mahakam delta (East Kalimantan, Indonesia) in the Miocene to Pliocene section, in various sedimentological settings between the delta plain and the shelf break.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90913©2000 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Bali, Indonesia